What Does Chicory Coffee Do? Chicory coffee is a drink made by roasting, grinding and brewing chicory root. Chicory is a perennial, hardy plant with purplish-blue flowers that open and close at the same time every day (Cichorium intybus) is obtained. It is common in North America and Europe. Chicory is also known as chicory root and curly chicory. Chicory leaves and flowers can be used in cooking.
Chicory is a versatile plant species. Chicory flowers and leaves can be used in salads or flavored vinegars; in some parts of the world they are also used in medicinal tonics. Each chicory plant has a single, long, thick root (known as taproot). This root is roasted before brewing; it can also be boiled and eaten like a vegetable. So, what is chicory coffee good for? Read on for more.
What Does Chicory Coffee Do?
With a long history, chicory is one of the oldest recorded plant species. Native to North Africa, western Asia and Europe, it is thought to have originated in Egypt in ancient times. Chicory was first used as a coffee variant or ingredient in France in the early 1800s.
More recently, chicory consumption has been associated with embargoes and cost-cutting. New Orleans, with a large French influence, was a major consumer of coffee before the Civil War. In 1840, coffee imports into the port of New Orleans were blocked. Returning to their French roots, the people of New Orleans began to use chicory instead of coffee.
Bugün, hindiba New Orleans’ta popüler olmaya devam ediyor ve “New Orleans kahvesi” tipik olarak hindiba kahvesine atıfta bulunuyor. New Orleans kahve satıcıları genellikle kahvelerini %30’a kadar hindiba kökü ile harmanlıyor. Hindiba Kahvesi’nin en ünlü üreticileri Fransa ve Güney Afrika’dır. Şimdilerde ABD’nin Nebraska eyaleti başta olmak üzere dünyanın birçok yerinde yetiştirilmektedir.
Chicory is grown and harvested like sugar beet. The roots are then removed from the ground with specialized equipment, cut into small pieces, oven dried, roasted, ground and packaged. Chicory coffee is a beverage that is often consumed for its taste and the fact that it does not contain caffeine. For some people, on the contrary, this is a reason not to drink chicory coffee.
What are the Benefits of Chicory Coffee?
Chicory has been used in traditional alternative medicine for more than 5,000 years. The following are just some of the known health benefits of chicory. Let's see what chicory coffee is good for and what are its benefits?
- In the early 19th century, French chefs and writers believed that chicory was a 'counter-stimulant', meaning that its sedative effects were the perfect complement to the stimulating effects of caffeine in coffee. On the other hand, they noted that it should not be used by 'anemic' or 'lymphatic' people.
- Fresh root is known to be beneficial against pulmonary exhaustion. Various studies continue to show that boiling 1 root in a liter of boiling water is effective against jaundice and liver enlargement.
- Chicory syrup is known to be an excellent laxative for children.
- Ancient herbalists have said that rotten leaves make a good poultice for swollen and inflamed eyes.
- Modern herbalists say chicory increases bile production, reduces rapid heartbeat, lowers cholesterol and destroys bacteria.
- A recent study shows that chicory lowers cholesterol levels and increases the ratio of HDL (the good stuff) to LDL (the bad stuff) in the blood of animals tested.
What are the Possible Side Effects of Chicory Coffee?
There is not much research examining just how safe chicory root is. However, evidence suggests that some of the substances found in chicory root may be harmful. For example, a 2018 study found that in addition to antioxidants, chicory root may contain some toxic substances. However, many studies show that most people do not experience any side effects from chicory root.
However, it should be noted that some people may be negatively affected by chicory tea and may experience some side effects. For example, chicory can cause allergic reactions in some people. A 2020 study concluded that people with problems such as allergies or eczema should be careful about consuming chicory root. Below are the allergic reactions seen in some people after consuming chicory:
- Throat swelling
- Difficulty breathing
- Tightness in the chest
- Fainting
Conclusion
Chicory coffee is a very useful and soft drink. Anyone who wishes can consume it with peace of mind. However, people with allergies or eczema should consult a doctor before drinking chicory coffee.
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